Hospital bed



H. KAPPEL.

HOSPITAL BED June 6, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 1, 1965 HANS KAPPEL INVENTOR.

BY ,m A

J y Attorney June 6, 1967 KAPPEL 3,323,146

HOSPITAL BED Filed June l, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet EIIWI HANS KAPFPEL I N VEN'TOR.

Attorney forming to the outline of the United States Patent 7 Claims. (c1. s 9o My present application relates to a hospital bed of the type wherein a mattress supporting the body of a patient is provided with a throughgoing hole, normally closed by a plug, into which a bedpan may be inserted so as to lie substantially level with the mattress.

The general object of my invention is to provide, in combination with such hospital bed, means for removably positioning a bedpan at a suitable location in such manner that the patient is not unduly inconvenienced, particularly in the case of paraplegic or otherwise seriously incapacitated persons having only limited control over the lower part of their body.

A related object of my invention is to provide means for insuring a fluidtight and odorproof sealing of the bedpan-receiving hole during use of the pan.

A further specific object is to provide means for minimizing the discomfort of a patient upon prolonged contact with the rim of the bedpan and for preventing skin irritation due to severe and sustained pressure of a rigid object against the body, all this while insuring that the patient retains the feel of the pan against his body and is spared the embarrassment of not knowing for sure whether his excretions are collected by the pan.

Still another object of this invention is to provide automatic means, operable by an attendant or even by the patient himself, for properly positioning the pan within the mattress after removing the plug normally received in the access hole thereof.

In accordance with a feature of my present invention, designed particularly to insure maximum comfort to the patient, I provide a resilient insert-such as a conventional bedspring-spanning the frame of the bed and supporting its mattress, this insert having an opening shaped to give passage to a bedpan and registering with a corresponding hole in the mattress thereabove. The opening is framed by an endless rigid web, e.g. of sheet metal or plastic material, which is attached to the insert so as to be resiliently suspended thereby, this web substantially conbedpan and having a horizontal underside engageable by .a bedpan support when the latter is raised against this underside. The bedpan support, which may be in the shape of a fiat plate, may be removably carried on an automatic (e.g. hydraulic or pneumatic) lifter advantageously controlled by a pedal. Suitable latch elements mounted on the web serve to hold either this bedpan support or a closure plate, normally present in lieu of the support, against the underside of the web in a fluidtight manner. The closure plate serves as a a rest for the plug normally received in the mattress hole, this plug being downwardly withdrawable through the bedspring opening when the closure plate is released from the latch elements and is lowered, preferably onto a laterally swingable supporting arm, for the purpose of being moved out of the path of the lifter preparatorily to insertion of the bedpan. The latter may have a generally ovoid shape, with its pointed end facing the foot of the bed, the outline of the web and the hole in the mattress being of similar configuration. The supporting arm preferably swings out beyond the side of the bed frame to simplify the task of removing and restoring the bedpan or the plug with their respective plates.

In accordance with another feature of my invention, a bed sheet overlying the mattress has a cutout which 3,323,146 Patented June 6, 1967 registers with the mattress hole and is provided with a tubular downward extension reaching through this hole into an inner peripheral recess of the web where its lower end is engaged by suitable retaining means, such as a spring clip.

The bedpan may be provided with a form-fitting liner of rubber or plastic material, e.g. as shown in US. Patent No. 3,061,840. In any case, the lowering of the lifting mechanism allows the bedpan to swing freely with the mattress and to yield to the weight of the patients body without irritating his skin even if left in position for prolonged periods.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view, partly in section, of a hospital bed according to my invention including a bedspring and a mattress;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bed of FIG. 1 with its mattress removed;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a bedpan carried on a support therefor shown swung out in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a mattress and other elements of the bed with the bedpan of FIG. 3 in place.

The bed shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a frame with the usual head and foot posts 1 and 2 supporting a bedspring 3 which is of conventional design except for the presence of an opening 301 therein offset toward the foot end from the center of the bed. The bedspring 3 has the shape of a rectangular insert with springs 6 supported on frame members 4 and 5 respectively extending along the minor and the major sides of the rectangle.

The opening 3a is framed by an endless web 7 of generally ovoid configuration pointed toward the foot end 2, this web comprising an upper member 8 of generally -shaped profile and a lower member 9 of channeled cross-section interconnected by a rib .10 so as to form an inner peripheral recess 11 between them. Web 7 is held only by the springs 6 of insert 3 so as to be resiliently suspended within the bed frame. The underside of channel 9 carries three or more peripherally spaced bosses 12 having spring-loaded latch bolts 12a slidable therein; the bolts 12a are retractable by suitable means shown in FIG. 4 as solenoids 12b. The bolts 12a are formed with beveled lower faces so that a plate 13 of corresponding ovoid outline, supporting a bedpan 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4), or a similarly shaped plate 1%, normally closing the opening 3a from below, can cam these bolts aside and thereafter be locked by them in position upon being raised into contact with the underside of web 9 by a lifting mechanism here shown as va telescoped pneumatic cylinder 14.

A mattress 15, e.g. of the inner-spring or foam-cushion type, rests on the bedspring 3 and is provided with a through-going hole 15a registering with the opening 3a of the bedspring. A bed sheet 16, which has a cutout conforming to the shape of hole 15a and opening 3a, is formed with a tubular extension 17 which lines the hole 3a and has its depending lower end received in the recess 11 where it is releasably clamped by a spring clip 18 so as to cover up the part 8. A plug 24, resting on closure plate 19, normally passes through the opening 3a and fills the hole 15a in the mattress; this plug is preferably con structed as a pad of the same resilient material as the mattress 15 and shrouded in .a fabric similar to bed sheet 16. Plug 24 and hole 15a may diverge slightly toward the bottom to facilitate the downward removal of the plug upon withdrawal of the latch bolts 12a. The plug 24 may be fixedly held on its supporting plate 19 to insure its correct positioning for reinsertion into the opening 3a.

Bedpan 20, which is of the same generally ovoid outline as the Web 7 but somewhat smaller in size, may be similarly fixed to its supporting plate 13, the two plates 13 and 19 fitting alternately into a recess 22a of an ovoid ring 22 at the end of a supporting arm 21 which is horizontally swingable, e.g. by means of an extension 21a, about a rod 2a forming part of the bedpost 2. FIG. 2 shows the ring 22 in its swung-out position and without either the bedpan-supporting plate 13 or the closure plate 19 resting thereon. In its operative position of alignment with the hole 3a, in which the arm 21 may be arrested or indexed by a suitable detent not shown, ring 22 overlies the head 14a of the pneumatic lifter 14 with sufficient clearance to allow this head to rise through the ring and to pick up a plate 13 or 19 carried thereon. Operating fluid, such as compressed air, is admitted to the cylinder 14 via a valve 25 controlled by a pedal 25a and is allowed to escape by way of a valve 26 controlled by pedal 26a. A switch 120 in series with each solenoid 12b, adapted to be closed by an extension 14b of piston head 14a when the latter is in or near its elevated position, prevents withdrawal of the latch bolts until the head 14a is ready to receive the released plate.

In operation, with the plug 24 originally disposed in mattress hole 15a, the attendant, after making sure that the ring 22 is properly aligned with the lifter 14, steps on the pedal 25a to elevate the piston head 14a into contact with plate 19. Next, by means of a switch not shown, solenoids 12b are energized to retract the bolts 12a whereupon the attendant depresses the pedal 26a to lower the plate 19 with the plug 24 onto the ring 22. After the piston head 14a has been fully retracted, arm 21 can be swung out into the position of FIG. 2 whereupon the attendant removes the plug 24 with its plate 19 and replaces it by the bedpan on plate 13. Now, the ring 22 is realigned with the lifter 14 and the latter is actuated once more to raise the bedpan 20 through the exposed opening 3a into the position illustrated in FIG. 4 in which the rim 23 of the bedpan, at its pointed rear end, projects slightly above the level of the mattress 15. Inasmuch as FIG. 4 shows the mattress in its unloaded condition, it will be apparent that the weight of a patient will depress both the mattress and the bedpan and that the latter will readily adjust itself to a position of minimum discomfort to the patient. This is possible, however, only if the attendant has at least partly lowered the piston head 14a after the carrier plate 13 has snapped into a position of engagement with the bolts 12a, thereby giving a certain vertical play to the bedspring 3 in the region of the bedpan.

The subsequent removal of the bedpan and the restoration of the plug 24 to its normal position can be carried out in the same manner as has been described for the withdrawal of the plug and the introduction of the bedpan.

Naturally, the arrangement herein described can also be employed in cases of serious impairment of body motions where a bedpan must be almost continuously present, the plug 24 being not used in such instances.

The mechanism 25, 25a for actuating the pneumatic lifter may also be designed, in the absence of a source of compressed fluid, as a simple foot-operated air pump. These and other modifications, readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention except as otherwise defined in the appended claims,

I claim:

1. A hospital bed comprising a frame; a bedspring horizontally spanning said frame, said bedspring being provided with an opening shaped to give passage to a bedpan; an endless rigid web substantially conforming to the out line of said bedpan lodged in said opening and attached to said bedspring, said web having a horizontal underside engageable by a bedpan support; a mattress on said insert provided with a throughgoing ovoid hole registering with said opening; a plug of cushioning material removably received in said hole, said plug and said mattress normally forming a continuous support for the body of a patient; lifting means underneath said bedspring in line with said opening for raising a bedpan on a support therefor through said opening substantially to the level of said mattress upon removal of said plug; and a ring horizontally disposed underneath said insert for lateral movement between a position aligned with said lifting means and a position alongside said frame, said lifting means including a head movable through said ring in the aligned position thereof into alternate engagement with said plug and with the bedpan support for elevating same from said ring into said opening and for subsequently redepositing same on said ring preparatorily to removal thereof from the bed.

2. A hospital bed as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bed sheet overlying said mattress, said sheet having a cutout in line with said opening and a tubular extension projecting downwardly through said opening in contact with the periphery thereof, said extension having a lower end secured to said web.

3. A hospital bed as defined in claim 2 wherein said web is provided with an inner peripheral recess, said end of said extension being tucked into said recess, further comprising retaining means in said recess holding said extension in position.

4. A hospital bed as defined in claim 1 wherein said web is provided with latch means for clamping said support in fluidtight manner onto said underside upon a raising of said bedpan through said opening.

5. A hospital bed as defined in claim 4, further comprising a carrier plate for said plug normally held by said latch means against said underside above said lifting means, said latch means being releasable for facilitating a lowering of said carrier plate onto said ring by said head.

6. A hospital bed as defined in claim 1 wherein said ring is mounted on an arm pivotally secured to said frame.

7. A hospital bed as defined in claim 1 wherein said lifting means is provided with foot-controlled operating means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 244,612 7/ 1881 Jensen et al. i -i 5-90 944,204 12/1909 McKay 5-91 X 1,636,705 7/1927 Prettenthaler 5--90 1,918,896 7/19'33 Bruch 5-90 2,215,757 9/1940 Hurst 59O 2,384,325 9/ 1945 Marsan 5--90 2,506,183 5/1950 Touchberry 590 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner, FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner,

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A HOSPITAL BED COMPRISING A FRAME; A BEDSPRING HORIZONTALLY SPANNING SAID FRAME, SAID BEDSPRING BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING SHAPED TO GIVE PASSAGE TO A BEDPAN; AN ENDLESS RIGID WEB SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORMING TO THE OUTLINE OF SAID BEDPAN LODGED IN SAID OPENING AND ATTACHED TO SAID BEDSPRING, SAID WEB HAVING A HORIZONTAL UNDERSIDE ENGAGEABLE BY A BEDPAN SUPPORT; A MATTRESS ON SAID INSERT PROVIDED WITH A THROUGHGOING OVOID HOLE REGISTERING WITH SAID OPENING; A PLUG OF CUSHIONING MATERIAL REMOVABLY RECEIVED IN SAID HOLE, SAID PLUG AND SAID MATTRESS NORMALLY FORMING A CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FOR THE BODY OF A PATIENT; LIFTING MEANS UNDERNEATH SAID BEDSPRING IN LINE WITH SAID OPENING FOR RAISING A BEDPAN ON A SUPPORT THEREFOR THROUGH SAID OPENING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE LEVEL OF SAID MATTRESS UPON REMOVAL OF SAID PLUG; AND A RING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED UNDERNEATH SAID INSERT FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A POSITION ALIGNED WITH SAID LIFTING MEANS AND A POSITION ALONGSIDE SAID FRAME, SAID LIFTING MEANS INCLUDING A HEAD MOVABLE THROUGH SAID RING IN THE ALIGNED POSITION THEREOF INTO ALTERNATE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PLUG AND WITH THE BEDPAN SUPPORT FOR ELEVATING SAME FROM SAID RING INTO SAID OPENING AND FOR SUBSEQUENTLY REDEPOSITING SAME ON SAID RING PREPARATORILY TO REMOVAL THEREOF FROM THE BED. 